Joe, Where does the bunge cord get attt. Where does the downhaul line run as it goes through the rudder cage? I know all to well how the position of the rudder changes weatherhelm/leehelm. My h26 had the same problem. how long have you owned your 222? Any other tips on the 222 would be appp. Thank's Pat
Pat,
When you pull the pendant line out of the rudder head, measure 18" from where the line exits from in back of the rudder blade. This is where you want to crimp on the bungee cord. Then, you are going to want to make the bungee cord about 12" long from that point to the tip of the loop that will go around the bolt. I usually draw a mark with a magic marker, and pull the pendant line and bungee cord back into the rudder head with a coat hanger or wire. Then I make a loop around the bolt and crimp it. Your tiller probably rests on the a bolt under the tiller, so you're going to want to use the bolt just below that one for the bungee loop. Make sure that when you crimp the bungee to the pendant line, that you have it going in the same direction as the line. Check out the diagram. The line comes up behind the Teak block and out over the bolt that the bungee is attached to. If your pendant line gets caught in between the rudder blade and the inside of the rudder head, you may need to remove one of the rudder head plates and shave the Teak blocks down a little to get a tighter fit. This is what I had to do.
I bought my boat new at the Boston Boat Show in 1986. I was able to talk the dealer into having the O'Day company leave off winches and tracks on my boat at the factory so that I could relocate them to the combings. I also asked for a full stern rail and later found out that they in turn installed these rails on 20 of their OD 222s. At that time, I visited the O'Day factory in Fall River Ma. twice and was able to see my boat being built. Check out the Owner's evaluation of the 222 and Owner's Photos under "Trinkka" on this site for more pics and modifications that I have done through the years. The only other thing that I can tell you is to stick with the same thickness of stays that your boat came with which is 1/8" or your chain plate "L" brackets on the bulkhead can break. I have OD 25 chain plates on my boat now. If you need any further info or pics, feel free to email me.
sailtrinkka1986@verizon.net I hope that I was of some help here. Good Luck!
Joe